El Tour to Tucson - 2013

I have been remiss in getting this event up on my blog.  Lifetime Fitness in Tempe does a 'Tour TO Tucson' every year in April and what an event it is!  Since moving back to AZ I have told Becky it would be great to ride to Tucson from our house but, of course, I didn't know the route I should take and it is about 118 miles of desert so you better be prepared!  Tucson has a lot of significance given my wife grew up there and it has some awesome Mexican food.  It is also fun to visit and close.  All reasons to make the trip and add a little fitness.

Then I heard about this event...  For $50.00, you ride with a group from the Lifetime Fitness in Tempe to the Westin La Paloma Resort in North Tucson.  Fully supported with SAG crews basically riding out in front of you and setting up tents, massage tables (YES!), food, drinks, music, etc. every 20 miles.  Incredible value and so much fun!  Then, you have the option of coming back home that day (they will provide transport) or staying the weekend at the Westin (which is an awesome resort) at a discounted rate.  I signed up in a flash!  Becky decided to meet me down there and we would stay over after the ride.  It ended up to be an absolutely wonderful event!  Really a highlight of my year.

 This was us getting started at the beginning of the ride.  One of the SAG wagons getting setup in the parking lot of the Lifetime in Tempe.

This was one of the race coordinators going over instructions and how were were going to operate.  Octane even had freebies to distribute during the ride.  Others did too, including TriSports and Clif products.

Our first stop at the Bashas in Sun Lakes....

This is me at the beginning of the ride.  It ended up getting much hotter over the course of the day so the arm warmers came off!

 Did I tell you they had a massage girl at every SAG stop!  Pure luxury.  I am thinking they need to have this setup for IMAZ!

 This is me at the end.  118 miles at 6:01:00 later!

 These are all of the Westin La Paloma resort.  We had a great time!

DT